A 64-year-old retired landlady in Hong Kong fell victim to a sophisticated scam after a fraudster impersonated a prospective tenant and swindled her out of KSh 168 million (approximately US$1.3 million) through cryptocurrency fraud.
How the Scam Unfolded
The victim, who owns multiple residential, commercial, and parking properties, had advertised a rental property on Facebook in May. A scammer contacted her via WhatsApp, expressing interest in renting the property. Although no tenancy agreement was ever signed, the fraudster built a personal rapport with the woman.
According to reports, the scammer introduced the landlady to cryptocurrency investment, portraying it as a lucrative opportunity. They guided her step-by-step in setting up a crypto wallet and deceitfully obtained her wallet credentials and password.
Once in control of her wallet, the fraudster persuaded her to invest roughly HK$10 million into digital assets. The scammer then quickly transferred the funds out, leaving the woman with an empty wallet. She only realized she had been defrauded upon checking her cryptocurrency account.
Police Response and Warnings
Hong Kong police have issued a public advisory urging residents to protect their cryptocurrency wallet details and to be cautious when interacting with strangers on social media, especially when financial matters arise. Authorities warned against trusting unsolicited offers promising high returns or expert investment advice from online contacts.
Related Fraud Cases
In a separate incident, a Kenyan woman discovered a scam where a former acquaintance faked her own death to solicit money from mourners, further highlighting the growing sophistication of online fraud schemes.
